Meet 3-Year-Old Preschool Teacher Mary Lunstra
Sioux Falls Lutheran School is pleased to welcome Mrs. Mary Lunstra to the Sioux Falls Lutheran School family! She will join our preschool team as one of three 3-year-old preschool teachers during the 2023-24 school year.
Mrs. Lunstra graduated from SDSU with a degree in early childhood and elementary education. She comes to us with a variety of teaching experiences in preschool, 1st grade, and special education. Additionally, she has taught young children in Sunday school and VBS at her church in Brandon.
Check out the Q&A below to learn more about Mrs. Lunstra and her passion for education.
Tell me a bit about yourself and your family.
I graduated from SDSU with a Bachelor's degree in early childhood and elementary education. My husband and I have two boys, Kaleb and Layne. I enjoy traveling, being with family, shopping, kayaking, hiking, and just being outdoors.
What inspired you to pursue a career in education?
I have wanted to be a teacher since the 4th grade. My teacher was so inspiring. I love to be around children and I want to help them to have a solid foundation so they can be successful in their future education.
Tell me a bit about your teaching style.
Through my many years of teaching and working with children, I have developed a caring and patient teaching style. I want to develop a community in my classroom where my students feel safe and excited to be in my class. I want to develop a relationship with them so I am able to meet their emotional and developmental needs.
What do you enjoy most about working with young learners?
I love working with young learners because everything is new and exciting to them. They are like little sponges and soak up everything you teach them. I love to see how much they grow throughout the year.
How do you envision integrating faith into your classroom daily?
I plan to incorporate faith into my classroom with Bible stories and Bible songs. I will teach the children to be thankful through prayer and thankful for God’s many blessings.
Favorite Bible verse:
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” –Jeremiah 29:11
About Sioux Falls Lutheran School
At Sioux Falls Lutheran School, our mission is to develop capable, Christian servant-leaders in a complex world who are World Ready and Faith Secure. We are passionate about giving our students the tools they need to be successful academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually. We strive to accomplish this goal by maintaining high academic standards, employing excellent teachers, and upholding a Christian worldview drawn from Scripture. Ultimately, we are committed to partnering with parents and the church to raise lifelong learners who use their gifts and the fruits of the Spirit, in faith, to touch a troubled world with God’s grace.